LIVING BIBLICALLY

New comedy about a modern New York City man literally trying to live by the tenets of the Bible, starring Jay R. Ferguson.

Airs at 9:30 p.m. today

CBS. To view the pilot and for more on the show, check www.cbs.com/ shows/living-biblically/ and the golden rule, but also lesser-known ones in Deuteronomy and Leviticus that advise against clothing that mixes fabrics together.

“We certainly use some stuff from the book for source material, but our stories are different,” says Ferguson. “I know A.J. and spent a lot of time with him, but it was his intention of writing a book about his experience. My character is doing it out of a desperation for some guidance in his life.”

Dealing with religion — even as gently as “Living Biblically” does — is bound to draw scrutiny.

“I don’t think there is any scenario where the show wouldn’t bother someone in the world,” says Patrick Walsh, the showrunner for the comedy, which is from “The Big Bang Theory” star Johnny Galecki’s production company.

Ferguson grew up in Texas, before moving to begin work in TV as a teen, most notably as Burt Reynolds’ son in “Evening Shade.” He says he’s excited about “Living Biblically” because of the divisions he sees in the country.

“We have gotten away from the notion that we have far more in common than what separates us, no matter what we believe,” says the actor. “I saw this as a wonderful opportunity to possibly cut through the hypocrisy that seems to have taken over as of late.”

“One of the biggest hurdles is the fear to have the conversation about (religion),” says Galecki, who doesn’t appear in the 13 episodes already shot for the first season.

Of course, anyone who has read the Bible knows that there are numerous passages — like putting adulterers to death — that run smack up against modern social mores.

Chip, thankfully, is faithful to his pregnant wife, Leslie (Lindsey Kraft). Though not really a believer, she supports his sometimes impractical quest. His toughminded editor at the newspaper, Ms. Meadows (“The Practice’s” Camryn Manheim), does too, knowing his articles about it will generate readers.

“Being a film critic living in Manhattan is a challenge for Chip on a daily basis,” notes Ferguson. “He has to deal with all sorts of characters in the newspaper office from all different walks of life and different beliefs.”

To stay on the righteous path, Chip enlists his own “God Squad,” a Catholic priest (Ian Gomez) and a rabbi (David Krumholtz), to offer him practical advice.

Coincidentally, the show has both a priest and rabbi serving as consultants.

“They will chime in and give us notes and let us know if we’re too far off base,” says Ferguson. “They also offer different suggestions of Bible verses that might be better suited for whatever we’re talking about.”

He adds, “It’s great to know we’ve got them to fall back on, so people know that it’s not just a bunch of Hollywood weirdos sitting in a room riffing on religion. They make sure what we are doing is respectful, and hopefully it won’t the misconstrued as offensive.”

While “Living Biblically” is a comedy, the showrunners know that it will have to deal with some of the more controversial aspects of the Good Book.

“As far as homosexuality, that is ideally a Season 2 episode,” says Walsh. “It was discussed and discussed, and we couldn’t break it. As far as the misogyny in the Bible, that is episode eight. We do tackle these issues head-on. We’re not pretending that they don’t exist.”

There are certain things that Chip as a modern man living by the Bible won’t do, adds Walsh. “He will not be hateful. I don’t think those things are biblical attitudes, and the show won’t reflect that.”

“Living Biblically” is filmed in front of a live studio audience, which Ferguson, whose long career got a boost for his time on “Mad Men,” hasn’t done since he was on the Reynolds’ sitcom “Evening Shade” in the early 1990s. The actor says he was a bit nervous about it, but is really enjoying it and is looking forward to more.

Plus, the experience allows him and the others to get immediate feedback from the crowd.

“It’s a collaborative environment,” says Ferguson, though he’s not sure whether the religious experts have chimed in with any jokes yet.

Like Walsh, Ferguson knows the show isn’t going to please everybody. “There’s always going to be somebody who is rubbed the wrong way,” he says.

But he hopes “Living Biblically’ is an opportunity to stress shared values — like that it’s better to give than receive and that one should not covet another’s partner or stuff — that people can get behind “no matter if you are Christian, Muslim, Jewish or atheist.”

“We all have in common more than we are led to believe by some elected officials and people with loud voices,” says Ferguson, “But don’t get me started; I can go all day about this. It is all about unification and less about the division.”

PHOTO BY SONJA FLEMMING/CBS When Father Gene and Rabbi Gil (the “God Squad”) point out to Chip that his addiction to his smartphone is the same as worshiping a false idol, Chip decides to stop using it, causing his wife, Leslie, and his officemates to worry about his whereabouts,...

PHOTO MICHAEL YARISH/CBS Upon learning that Lesley is expecting, Chip goes to the bookstore seeking parenting guidance, and stumbles upon a bible which inspires him to begin living strictly by the book, on the recent series premiere of “Living Biblically.”

PHOTO MICHAEL YARISH/CBS A scene from “Living Biblically.”